North Fork Mono opens $750 million California casino amid federal lawsuit

The North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians is the owner of the $750 million North Fork Mono Casino, which sits off Highway 99 near Madera in California's Central Valley. Gambling began there at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27, ahead of the planned date, even though a federal lawsuit aimed at halting play at the property had not been resolved. Las Vegas-based Station Casinos, a subsidiary of Red Rock Resorts, handles management of the venue. According to the source account, no ruling stopping operations had been issued as of Thursday.

A federal complaint was lodged in June by the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians, operator of the nearby Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino. The suit targets the National Indian Gaming Commission's 2024 sign-off on the management agreement between North Fork and Station. In Picayune's view, federal law requires state concurrence for gambling on the site, the casino does not have it, and the contract approval was consequently unlawful.

The roots of the fight reach back to a 2014 ballot measure in which voters in California turned down legislation that would have ratified a tribal-state gaming compact for the North Fork project. A state appeals court held in December 2025 that the same referendum stripped former Gov. Jerry Brown's concurrence of effect; that concurrence had accompanied a federal determination allowing gambling on the off-reservation land. The California Supreme Court then chose not to take up the ruling in April.

North Fork rejects the reading that the state ruling carries those consequences. Its position is that federal approvals still stand, and it cites gaming procedures the Interior Department issued in 2016, after compact talks with California broke down. Picayune, the tribe contends, is trying to relitigate matters that earlier federal cases already addressed.

On Oct. 9, U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff presided over arguments concerning Picayune's bid for a preliminary injunction as well as the defendants' motions to dismiss the case. Picayune cautions that revenue supporting its tribal services could shrink substantially if the new casino draws away business. North Fork counters that the project is essential for financing jobs, housing and other member programs.

The ribbon-cutting on Tuesday, Oct. 27 drew hundreds of people, among them tribal members who entered the casino in the first group. Elaine Bethel Fink, a tribal leader, expressed gratitude to backers for enduring the long campaign.